Hindu Weddings in India - Sacred Bonds of Marriage
Hindu weddings in India are known for their expansive pomp and display. The wedding ceremonies extend over a period of four to five days. These ceremonies are based on astronomical Indian traditions and customs. In addition to this, the Indian weddings are considered as an vital sacrament of the Hindu religion. Hindu weddings are one among sixteen cultural practices a devout Hindu has to go through. Hindu marriages are not only a union of two hearts but two families as well. For this holy union a grand number of customs have to be followed. These customs are divided into three parts, pre-wedding, wedding and post-wedding ritual.
The Pre Wedding Rituals are beginning of wedding ceremony. The pre wedding rituals consists of engagement, tilak, sagai, sangeet and mehandi. The Engagement ceremony is marked by the exchange of rings by prospective brides and grooms. The next ceremony is Tilak ceremony, wherein the girl's brother applies tilak (red effect) on the groom's forehead and offers him gifts. Next is the Sagai ceremony wherein bride and groom sides exchange gifts. The next fraction of pre wedding rituals is Sangeet ceremony, in which women and girls of both the families articulate and dance to be pleased these moments. The next and last section of the wedding rituals is Mehandi ceremony in which mehndi or henna is applied on bride's hands, palms and feet in an artistic diagram. It is one of the vital aspects of Hindu weddings in India.
On the main day of Wedding the wedding ceremony originate with Jaimala, the ceremony in which the bride and the groom exchange flower garlands in the presence of their friends and relatives. This ceremony is followed by Kanyadaan for which the bride and groom advance to the mandap to earn this custom. This ritual is considered very famous because it is the ritual in which the bride's father gives his daughter's hand to the groom. This moment is sanctified with mantras chanted by priests. The next thing is Mangalpheras which is performed around the holy fire. The couple also rob the seven vows called Saptapadi, and do promise to stand by each other through all thick and thins. This ceremony is followed by the groom putting sindoor or vermillion in the bride's hair parting. Then the groom ties mangalsutra around the bride's neck.
After completion of wedding ceremony the Post-Wedding Rituals starts. The post wedding rituals consist of vidaai and reception. The Vidaai ceremony is the event in which bride leaves her ancestral home to join grooms family. When the couple arrives at the groom's house, the proud groom's mother welcomes them with aarti. After completion of some other rituals a tall reception party is organised to introduce bride to the grooms family and society.
